Hommage to 1034

For me, "1034" will always have a magical meaning. This was the product number for Campagnolo Record low flange road hubs. It's hard to imagine, especially as a wheel builder, a more perfect cycling component. Of course, they haven't been made for years and are entirely incompatible with today's 10 and 11 speed freehubs. But their beauty and reliability is timeless.

You can imagine my delight when Rick Mayer from Connecticut proposed sending a set of NOS 1034 hubs to be built on a pair of Ghisallo Corsa rims. What a great match that would make. And what surprise when I opened his box and found the hubs were truly new. They could be 30 years old but had never been built.

Little gems.

There was time when we handled so many of these, it was luxurious. I even have a collection of empty 1034 boxes. What am I thinking? Call me sentimental.

Collecting empty boxes??

Each box had a wax paper cover, a cardboard separator, and a classic onion skin drawing of the rear hub. Such presentation, such class. Of course, none of it would matter if the hubs didn't deliver awesome performance.

Special delivery.

The build went like a charm. Thin butted spokes slipped into position.



Nipples found their homes.

Light oil on the threads.

What a memorable pair. Weather permitting, they'll soon be fitted with tires and rolling briskly around the Connecticut countryside.

We're bedazzled.